The Writing Life

The Power of Asking

2009-06-05T09:30:00.001-07:00

We live in a busy world and the pace of life seems to get faster each day. The amount of email and good things that we can jump into only seems to multiply: blogs, twitter, facebook, myspace, forums and email newsletters. My encouragement is for you to handle it one task at a time. It is OK, not to blog or be involved in twitter. Each element is a choice and you have to know and understand the reason you have strategically decided to be involved in such an effort. Also periodically return to your different obligations and see if they continue to contain value. If not, then see how to eliminate or reduce them. It's something I'm actively doing all the time.

In a couple of weeks I will be speaking at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. I'm looking forward to telling the audience some unusual stories about my journey into publishing. How was I asked to be their keynote speaker? You can find some of those details in this post from Emily Akin. In particular notice the sixth paragraph, "Once she picked her jaw up from the floor, she opened the message, in which Whalin expressed interest in being on faculty for 2009 conference. He mentioned his "deep family roots" in Kentucky, included several topics on which he could speak, and added that he would have a new book out in time for KCWC '09." (I've underlined what I'm emphasizing here.). I wrote Emily, the conference organizer, and asked to be considered for their faculty. The rest of the story is also in this post but it started with my own initiative to ask for consideration. What sort of dreams do you have for your own writing life? Are you asking?

This week during lunch with one of my authors, he asked me about how to get the endorsements and foreword for his forthcoming book. We discussed some possible names and relationships that this author has established. One of the keys in this process is to simply ask the people for their help. Also how you ask is critical. When you ask, I recommend you position your question in the easiest possible way for that person to say yes. For example with an endorsement or foreword for a book, the people who are most often approached are very busy people. How can you make your request stand out--and make it easy for that person to say yes?

If you haven't been in publishing, you probably don't understand these high profile people (the type you want to endorse your book) are regularly asked to write an endorsement. Yet they have several hurdles in accepting such a request--time to read the book and then write something coherent and appropriate about the book. In the process of asking them, I recommend you offer to possibly write them a "draft" endorsement. It will erase the potential hurdle and position you as an understanding person who wants them to say "yes." I've written many drafts of endorsements over the years and sometimes the person will take my exact words and other times they will rewrite them. It adds to the power of your asking if you ask in the right way.

Throughout the week, I've been thinking about this simple principle. Ironically bestselling author Jack Canfield wrote about the same topic in his newsletter through the article, Good Things Come To Those Who Ask. I encourage you to read, study and apply the principles in this excellent article.

What is holding you back from making the next step in your publishing life? I have many insights about taking next steps in my Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Have you read it? Are you implementing the information? If not, then I'm asking you to get your copy today.

Are you using the power of asking? Do it today and you will be surprised at what can happen. I believe something amazing is in store for you.

Every Email Counts

2009-05-31T15:16:00.001-07:00

Since the beginning of 2004, I've had a newsletter called Right Writing News. Ideally, I write one a month but because of my schedule and other responsibilities, the newsletter hasn't gone out as frequently recently. There are 38 back issues of Right Writing News and it's free to subscribers. These back issues contain more than 400 pages of how-to write articles and information--a rich resources for anyone who wants to learn about writing.

Also anyone who subscribes will receive three valuable Ebooks worth over $100. The main page of Right Writing.com has a pop-up menu which offers the newsletter and anyone can instantly subscribe. It isn't automatic--but generates an email which I manually add the person to my email newsletter list--and they confirm they want the subscription. I know the system isn't perfect but I've been using it for five years and it is what it is. This list has almost 7,000 emails which have been collected over the years.

For many reasons, I've not kept up on processing the emails which go into the web mail for Right-Writing.com. In fact, part of me has been ignoring it. This weekend I looked in the email box and it had over 500 emails. I started to check the emails against my master list to see if the subscriber had gone ahead and gone to the newsletter page and subscribed. In fact, I was hoping they had subscribed, then I could delete the email and move through the pile of unprocessed emails.

Instead I learned that only about two in 100 emails had subscribed. If I had been rushed, I would have deleted 98 people who requested my newsletter yet didn't get on my list. It reminded me of a simple lesson when it comes to newsletters and subscribers: every email counts. It's part of the discussion that many publishers and writers frequently discuss--platform. If you want to sell a book to a traditional publisher, you need a platform. You can build your platform in many different ways (get this free Ebook for some of my ideas) but one of the keys is to gather every email and add it into your newsletter. Then through the newsletter continually build your relationship with the individual. It's something I've been encouraging writers to do and faithfully modeling for several years.

Platform building and building an online presence are two chapters in my Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Part of my motivation in writing this book was to encourage every author to understand some proactive steps they can take to build an audience and presence in today's marketplace.

During the next few days, I will be processing the Right Writing email address--and adding those emails to my list. I want each person who wants the free newsletter to have it and profit from that valuable information. Once again I was reminded of the value of each email.

Back At My Computer

2009-05-30T09:40:00.001-07:00

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been on the faculty of a couple of different writers conferences in Colorado and North Carolina. It meant nine straight days on the road away from home. I came home for two days.

Last Sunday I flew to Buffalo, New York and drove an hour and a half to the small town of Houghton which is in Southwestern New York State. For four hours I spoke last Monday morning to a class at Houghton College, then I did my Sunday trip in reverse getting home to Phoenix late Monday night.

This past week, I've been on the phone and computer attempting to get my various book projects for Intermedia on track. While it's not totally under control, it is getting there and I'm grateful. The work has left no time for these entries on the Writing Life.

For fun, check out this article in the Ashland, Kentucky newspaper about my forthcoming speaking event next month at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference.

I've met many people over the last few weeks and I've been adding their names, emails and addresses into my rolodex. If you are headed to a writers conference in the weeks ahead, let me give you some of my insights about exchanging information with the editor.

1. You'd be surprised the number of people who want one of my business cards (which I freely gave) yet did not plan ahead and bring cards to the conference. Instead of letting that person off the hook so they didn't give me their contact information, I collected their email and phone and address in my notebook. If you want to be professional with the faculty at a conference, plan ahead and bring your business cards.

2. When you create your business card, completeness is much more important than a fancy appearance for the card. One writer gave me a business card and the typeface had so many curls in it (so it would appear to be fancy) that it was almost impossible to read it.

Another book author included her name, address, phone and website on her business card--but was missing her email address. I wanted to connect with this author on email so it forced me to go to her website and look around until I found the email address. It should have been on her business card in the first place. Many editors will not make the effort that I made to connect with this author--and she's probably unaware that her business card is missing her email address. Make a point to check and double check your business card to make sure it has all of the critical information.

Another tech oriented writer neglected to include his email on his business card. I went to one of his websites and all I could find was his twitter account. While I like and use Twitter, I was looking for an email address. I had to search another one of his websites before I located the email address. Many others will give up instead of pursuing and collecting this type of information.

The follow-up is where the actual work comes to fruition. I am actively returning to these business cards and the handwritten contact information to re-connect with these individuals. Why? From my experience, it is only through the on-going development of the relationship and my interest in their work that we end up working together on a project. It's one of the critical steps that many writers neglect--to their own detriment.

Yes, it's terrific to get to meet different people at these writers conferences but what active steps are you taking to reconnect and follow-up on the ideas you discussed? It is the difference between dreaming and putting reality to your dreams from my perspective.

Jumpstart Your Conference Experience

2009-05-10T20:23:00.008-07:00

Several days ago, I wrote a post for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer's Conference Blog. What I didn't mention on that entry is the Blue Ridge Conference will be my second one--in a row. There are a number of us at the Blue Ridge Conference who are traveling from Denver, where we will be attending the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes, Park. I leave on Wednesday for Colorado. Without returning home, we go straight to the Blue Ridge conference. It will make blogging difficult (if not impossible) because time will be spent in other places.

Here's what I wrote about how to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience:

In a few days, I’m traveling to Asheville and the glorious Ridgecrest Conference center. I love the crisp clean air of the North Carolina Mountains and look forward to it. I’ve been preparing to teach my continuing workshop, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. I’ve been sorting through my 20+ years in publishing and preparing which stories to tell during my classes.

I love writers’ conferences. It’s a grand idea haven to talk shop and learn from other writers. If you want to succeed in the writing business, I’ve got four keys to Jumpstart your Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference experience:

1. Take daily time to pray about the various people you will meet and the ideas you will discuss. Ask the Lord to guide you through each detail of the conference such as who you will sit with at the opening meeting or where you will sit at each meal and what will be discussed. Ask for God to give you divine appointments. These encounters will be far beyond anything that you could have orchestrated or planned. Be looking for the Lord’s handiwork at the conference.

Some people call those divine appointments or “a pack your bags experience.” That means if you had to leave the conference early for some reason, then you would have had such a great experience with the greatest personal benefit. Through prayer you will come to the conference full of expectation and a spiritual sensitivity that God will work while you are on the conference grounds.

2. The second way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to come prepared to meet others and start new relationships. Prepare some business cards and be prepared to give them out to everyone you meet—but don’t make it a one way exchange. When you give a business card, make sure you receive a business card. Writing is a solitary occupation and we need each other. You will form new and lasting friendships at the conference if you come prepared for it.

3. The third way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to study the background for the various faculty members and get familiar with their different roles. Publishing is constantly changing. I’m in a different role as a publisher than my last time I came to Blue Ridge as a literary agent or when I’ve been as an acquisitions editor. Your familiarity with the different faculty will help you form deeper relationships during the conference. I believe your time in preparation will be rewarded.

4. The final way to Jumpstart Your Conference Experience is to come with the right heart attitude. Many writers come to their first conference expecting to sell their book manuscript or magazine article. Yes, there will be some of those exchanges at the conference. A much more central part of every writer’s conference is where individuals learn new aspects of publishing and take great strides of personal growth. Come with expectations and a willingness to learn and grow. With the right heart attitude, I’m convinced that you will not be disappointed but your expectations will actually be exceeded.

How can I say that expectations will be exceeded? Because I know each member of the faculty is a Christian and a person who is filled with the Spirit of the Living God. I love the verse in Ephesians 3:20 which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Today God is preparing for you the people and lives that will be touched during the time we are together in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I will be coming with high expectations and anticipations. I’ve not ever been disappointed in the past.

See you soon in the mountains!

Book Size Matters

2009-05-08T13:25:00.003-07:00

Yesterday, I packed two boxes of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams to mail to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

I packed the books in the flat rate priority boxes from the U.S. Post Office. The mail clerks could see the boxes were heavy.

"Let's see how much it would have cost without the flat rate," one of them eagerly said. They were curious. Without the flat rate, each box would have cost over $33 in postage. Because of the flat rate, each box was $10.35 to be shipped priority mail anywhere in the United States. I saved over $23 a box on shipping those books.

The size of your book makes a big difference for this shipping process. As a publisher, I am guiding authors in the creation of their books. One of the standard book sizes is 8.5 x 5.5 in either a hardcover or paperback. Another standard book size is 9 x 6. If I have a choice, each time I will select 8.5 x 5.5.

Why?

A 8.5 x 5.5 book will pack perfectly in the free boxes from the U.S. Post Office. For my Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, I can pack 16 books into each box or two stacks of eight books. The books are tightly packed into each box so that if they are thrown around in the shipping process, each book will arrive in pristine and perfect shape.

As marketing guru Seth Godin has said, "Marketing begins before the product is created." It takes some planning and intentional design to make sure your finished book is the right size, but that planning will result in repeated savings for you.

A Information Goldmine

2009-04-30T10:51:00.004-07:00

Many times during the day, I am looking for different bits of information online. Like many people, I often turn use the easiest source (Google) instead of the best source.

While I've read the book, The Invisible Web (some time ago), Sam Richter points out on page 99 of his excellent book, Take The Cold Out of Cold Calling, "In my presentation, when I ask people what percentage of web pages that can be accessed by search engines like Google and Yahoo, the typical response I receive is 75 percent or higher. Would it surprise you that at best -- combined popular search engines probably index less than 20 percent of publicly accessible Web pages?"

Step-by-step Sam Richter gives specific tools for the reader to excel at research and information gathering. Why? As a writer, the more you know about a target publication or publisher, then you will be more equipped to target your pitch and submission.

In the introduction to Take The Cold Out of Cold Calling, Richter writes, "Knowing what's important to your prospects, what their competitors are doing, and what their industry trends are is imperative for proper meeting preparation. Information is the key for building your credibility, offering customized and relevant solutions, and providing ongoing client value. Understanding your client's world is ultimately what differentiates one company--and one salesperson--from another." (page III of preface)

This book is packed with incredible online resources to learn about different industries. For example, in the publishing community, this book highlights Publist which is a database of more than 150,000 magazines, journals, newsletters and other periodicals. It is free but registration is required.

Or consider this resource Richter highlights, "Imagine if you could use the Web to locate a company's employee directory? Unless the company made a big mistake and posted it online, you probably can't. Spoke.com, however, might be the next best thing." (page 169)

I've only used two of many examples with great detail in this excellent resource. The other tool that every reader can use is the resource center called "the Warm Call Center." Go to this site www.takethecold.com) , register with your email address and you will have access to a wealth of links and resources for any time of research. I downloaded the toolbar to my browser and it's been an amazing resource to use as I do research. (

Sam Richter has pulled together a remarkable resource. I highly recommend.

The Best Teacher

2009-04-27T09:03:00.003-07:00

Throughout my time in the publishing community, I've had some unforgettable experiences--good and bad. I've written about a few of them in these entries on The Writing Life, which is one of my consistent themes.

When I've gone through some difficult or challenging experience, after it is over, I have often looked back and said to myself the common saying, "Experience is the best teacher."

In some ways, the saying is true because I've personally experienced it I will take measured steps to avoid going through that experience again. But is experience the best teacher?

Last week, I wrote about a new book, The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective by Andy Andrews. There are many valuable insights in this little book and in this entry I wanted to write about another one.

Jones, the central person in the book, is a noticer. During a difficult time in Andy Andrews' life, Jones makes a special introduction:

"'Do you read?' he asked. As I nodded, he added, 'I'm not asking if you can read, I'm asking if you do.'

'Yes,' I responded, 'Mostly magazines and stuff, but I do.'

'Good enough,' Jones said. 'Read these.'

I looked at what he handed me in the semidarkness. The titles were all names. Winston Churchill. Will Rogers. George Washington Carver. I glanced back up at him. 'History books?'

'No,' he said with a twinkle in his eye, 'adventure stories! Success, failure, romance, intrigue, tragedy, and triumph--and the best part is that every word is true! Remember, young man, experience is not the best teacher. Other people's experiences is the best teacher. By reading about the lives of great people, you can unlock the secrets to what made them great.'" (page 9)

I readily identified with this section of The Noticer. Why? I've always loved biographies and read many of them. I've learned so much from each one of them. It's part of the reason that I've written magazine profiles about more than 150 bestselling authors. In the process of writing those stories, I learn massive amounts of material about their experiences.

To me, it is a partial explanation why I've written numerous biographies such as Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, Luis Palau, John Perkins and many more.

Have you unlocked the secrets to greatness as you read about other people's experiences?

Adjusting History

2009-04-24T09:41:00.002-07:00

Recently I was reading The Atlantic and came across this article, Making History, How Historical Fiction Went Highbrow by Jay Parini.

I found it fascinating and I hope some of you will as well. Historical fiction continues to be a stable part of the fiction community. It's something I enjoy reading--when I can--and my time for it is extremely limited. Just like my time to write entries on The Writing Life today.

A New Guide to Social Media Marketing

2009-04-23T08:19:00.003-07:00

I've resisted many of the tools of social media because they appear to be a huge time zapper. Yet repeatedly as I've experimented with the tools, I've found huge benefits and returns on my investment -- often in surprising ways. Paul Gillin is an expert in this medium and you can learn a vast amount of insight from the pages of Secrets of Social Media Marketing.

And my resistance? It is rooted in my resistance to change. Gillin writes in the introduction, "Embracing change is the only sure success strategy in a business world that is evolving faster than we have ever known. Students of the information technology industry know that failure to adapt to change can obliterate even larger and successful companies with blinding speed. In this book, I'll make the case that the changes now roiling the marketing world are the best thing that's ever happened to the profession. Start embracing these changes now, and you'll propel your company and your career to new heights. Deny them, and you'll watch as the skills that have served you well for many years move rapidly toward irrelevance."

That quotation rings true from my experience in the market. It's a small sample of what you will find inside this book. Throughout the book, various secrets are emphasized in simple words. He refers to many websites and tools to help you streamline and be effective with the various social media possibilities. For example, in the chapter Basics of Social Media Content, Gillin writes, "Keep it simple, make it personal and give people a reason to pass it on." (Page 189)

Make full use of this book and return to it over and over. Read it with a highlighter with flags so you can spot the relevant places to apply for your own marketing efforts. My book is lined with these markers from reading this well-crafted book.

I resonated with what Gillin wrote toward the end of his introduction, "Writing a book about a market that's changing so fast is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Any book about this topic is out of date the moment it is published, so I've attempted to distill the lessons learned from the early successes of social media pioneers." He has more than fulfilled this promise.

Throughout this book, Gillin refers to numerous websites and tools. He's made the process of using these tools simple with a website which captures every detail with clickable links and referenced throughout the book. If you can't tell, I got a great deal from reading this book which I will be attempting to apply to my own writing life in the days ahead. You can do likewise if you get and read Secrets of Social Media Marketing.

Effective Back Cover Copy

2009-04-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

Even if you have never written the words on the back of a book cover, I bet you have purchased a few books after reading those words. I know I have done it. What draws you to certain books and not to others? Do you ever stop and think about it? The answers may help you put your own book together in a more effective fashion.

As a publisher, I’m involved in this aspect of creating the words on the back covers of books. It is not my first brush with this craft.

Years ago when operating my freelance business in Colorado Springs, I connected with the editorial director at Moody Press. As we talked, he told me that he needed someone to regularly write back covers for his books. I was looking for regular work so the relationship seemed like a perfect match to me.

The publisher would send a manuscript and give me a week to read some of it and write the back cover copy. I wrote dozens of back covers, delivered them on time and received $50 for each book and a printed copy of the book.

For this writer, the experience provided fabulous training and fulfilled my book habit all in one smooth operation. It is somewhat creative since you have to write words which draw the reader to the book, yet also a bit formulaic since there are elements which are expected on each book cover.

Recently for my work at Intermedia working with authors, I returned to this discipline of writing back cover copy. Searching for a tool to train authors, I found this article from Dan Poynter, self-publishing guru. I love that he explains the different elements on a back cover—plus includes a “work sheet” for you. I recommend you save this article on your computer and use it for every book that you write.

Why? You may question the need for writing back cover copy. Even if your book is published through a traditional house, your editor will appreciate your effort to put together this information. In these days of publishing where editorial staffs have been reduced, authors who write their own marketing materials such as back covers and press releases will be receive appreciation from the staff. The editor will still tweak your words and I suspect you will be happier with the finished product.

Learn to appreciate words that sell books. Then look for ways to incorporate those words into your book publishing.

The Power of Observation

2009-04-21T07:37:00.005-07:00

Between last Friday and Sunday, I spent nine hours on an airplane. That's what happens when you sign up to speak at a conference in Baltimore, Maryland and you live in the Phoenix area. Yes, I had a direct flight but any way you travel it is still 4.5 hours each way. It gives you a lot of time to work, catch up on some writing and reading while others are sleeping around you.

The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspec tive by Andy Andrews is one of the books that I completed during the flights. Here's a quick read which could become one of the most important books that you read all year.

Andy tells about a man simply named Jones and his profound impact on his world around him through active observation. Jones doesn't just notice his world. He gets actively involved in the lives of different people that he notices--including a profound effect on Andy Andrews at a critical juncture.

When I read any book, I'm always intrigued with where they find the title for the book. Often it is early and other times it is buried deep in the book--like The Noticer when Andy describes an incident from years ago as a young man:

"Jones looked around at me and winked, then said to Jason, "I am a noticer. It is my gift. While others may be able to sing well or run fast. I notice things that other people overlook. And you know most of them are in plain sight." The old man cocked his head. "I notice things about situations and people that produce perspective. That's what most folks lack--perspective--a broader view. So I give 'em that broader view...and it allows them to regroup, take a breath, and begin their lives again." (page 130-131).

I recommend you read The Noticer but also I encourage you to follow Jones example and increase your personal power of observation and how you can impact the people around you.

The Details of Making Books

2009-04-16T07:09:00.003-07:00

Over the last few months, I've not added any entries. Several days ago, I started again and it will continue. Today I wanted to give you a glimpse at what has been filling my days as a publisher. I may have been absent from blogging but not from book publishing.

I've returned to working with authors on their books--all the details of their books such as their titles, their book covers and their words on the inside of the books. It is consuming and I have some great projects in the works. I want to tell you about one of them that is coming soon called Spiritual lessons from Wall Street.

Yesterday I was working with author Brandon Pope on a sample of the interior of his book. I am not designing the interior--but I am the connection between the author and the person doing that layout. Within our system at Intermedia, the author has more control over every detail of the process. I personally like it when an author takes a more hands on approach--because then I know they care about every detail of the book. As I've said in other entries, the details count in book publishing--and many people shrug or ignore the details. It did not happen with this author.

After about a dozen phone calls and even more emails, we finally got the sample of the interior. Toward the end of this process, I'll admit I was ready to get the approval and move on to something else which is screaming from my workload. Yet Brandon persisted on every detail of the sample until it was right.

Later that day, I was thinking about the process and I applauded this author for his persistence. From my experience, it is the difference between making something that is good and something that is great.

The essence of any book begins with an excellent manuscript. You can have a snappy title and a beautiful book cover. But if the words on the inside don't deliver on the promises of the cover and title, then you will not get that buzz going for the book. I'm talking about where readers rave about their reading experience and it is all they can talk about for several days. They tell everyone in their path -- whether through email or in person--about the book.

Yes there are many things you can do to stimulate that conversation or buzz--and as an author, you need to make that continual marketing effort.

Every writer needs to be concerned about creating an excellent manuscript and persist in getting the details right. I believe it will pay off for Spiritual Lessons from Wall Street.

Consistency Is Important

2009-04-15T12:13:00.002-07:00

Saturday I will be introduced before I speak at Spread the Word in Baltimore. Often people are surprised at the volume of books and magazine articles which I've written over the years. I did not plan to write over 60 books or for over 50 print magazines. Instead I focused on developing a body of work.

As a writer, are you consistently working at learning your craft and writing? You may feel challenged to write anything (as I do many of these days as a busy publisher) yet that consistent habit of writing even 500 or 1,000 words will add up to a volume of material. Just look at these entries on The Writing Life which are now over 900 entries about publishing. This rich resource didn't happen overnight but through constant effort.

One of the areas where many writers struggle is to market their books. Writing is a solitary act. You and your pen and paper or keyboard curl up and produce words. Now marketing your book and telling others about it is a whole different process. As I've mentioned repeatedly in these entries, writers need to consistently work at the marketing for their books and telling others about it.

For the majority of bestselling authors, their book doesn't instantly rocket to a bestseller list. Getting on that list is the result of the author (and the publisher) beating the drum to tell people about the importance of the book. I compare it to a dripping of information. You have to tell a person over and over about the value of a book and finally if they hear it often enough, they will purchase the book, then read it and then hopefully tell others about it.

What are you doing today to tell people about your book? It doesn't have to be time consuming but it does have to be consistent. Maybe you send a few emails and that will comprise your marketing effort. Or a radio station interviews you about your book or a writer interviews you for a printed magazine article. I am regularly telling people about my Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and encouraging people to see what people are saying about the contents of the book. For example, check out what Stephanie Diamond wrote about Jumpstart. She worked eight years as Marketing Director for America Online.

If you don't have a book, then what are you doing to raise your own visibility in the marketplace as an author? Are you commenting on blogs or involved in an online group of writers where you are helpful and visible? Are you taking an active role in your local writers group or on the national level? Again, the consistency is important and will pay dividends over time.

Everyone is looking for the instant fix and the immediate. My experience says the consistent effort is worth it. For example, I'm answering questions today from a newspaper reporter who wants to write a feature story about my forthcoming keynote address in June at the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. I'm looking forward to these sessions yet I'm consistently working on some of the background work to help promote the conference through these articles in the local newspapers.

You never know what opportunity will come during a day. Are you ready to tackle it with consistency?

The Perfect Substitute

2009-04-14T08:38:00.002-07:00

It is no secret that these are challenging days for many people. Publishing isn't immune to the economic situation which is rocking many areas of our culture. If you are trying to get your book or magazine article published, you are probably hearing the word "no" much more often than you like.

Years ago I read the inspiring story of Ann Kiemel who wrote I Love the Word Impossible. No matter what came her way, Ann continued to hang on to her dreams and look for the open door of opportunity.

From my experience in the publishing world, the doors of opportunity are still there--but more difficult to find. One of the most wildly successful series in book publishing history is the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Yet few people recall the beginnings of those authors when they were trying to get their book published. If you need some encouragement or inspiration, I would encourage you to read the sample of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. In the foreword from Mark Victor Hansen, you will read about the many times, Mark and Jack Canfield were told "no" from publishers. When you read their experience, compare it to your own. How many times have you been rejected for your idea? If they continued, can't you continue?

Whenever you hear the word "no" associated with your book idea, I encourage you to make the perfect substitute--Next. Yes, the word is close to no but you can use it to propel you ahead in the pursuit of your dreams.

I give step-by-step encouragement for advanced and beginning authors in Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Rather than take my word for it, look at this independent review from a March magazine.

If you are struggling to get attention in the publishing world, here's several ideas for you:

1. Start with something less than a book. Write a magazine article and you can learn a great deal from that experience--even for a small publication.

2. Don't write alone but get feedback through a critique group. If you don't know how to find one, use this article.

3. Join a writer's organization and get involved and learn from the other people.

4. Get to a writer's conference to make new friends (relationships are key in this business) and grow as a writer. If you check my schedule you will see that I'm going to be traveling to a number of conferences in the coming weeks. I hope we can connect there.

More than anything else, keep going and persist. You may feel as though you are driving down the road and can't find the entrance to your dreams. It might be just around the next bend.

A Return to The Writing Life

2009-04-13T08:09:00.002-07:00

Have you ever been missing in action? You have built expectations to where readers expect to be receiving your material and it has suddenly stopped.

Since late 2004, I have been writing these entries about The Writing Life and various aspects of publishing. A simple goal of capturing a few words a day has built until it is over 900 entries on many different aspects of the publishing industry. If you haven't used the free search tool in the right hand column of these entries, you could be missing some valuable writing insight. In late January, I stopped writing and took a break from these entries.

The day after Easter and a celebration of the resurrection seems like a perfect day to begin again. If you follow me on Twitter, you know I have not left publishing or stopped pointing to different articles and bits of publishing information. My followers on Twitter has grown to over 13,000. In relation to Twitter, I have recently started using a free tool called Hootsuite. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it because it gives people an easy way to Retweet or pass along your tweets--something which can become very viral in spreading the buzz about something.

First, let me say something about taking a break from regular writing. It's OK to give yourself permission. I know the writing books talk about the necessity of writing on a regular basis and I applaud that consistent pattern. At the same, time life happens and you should not feel guilty for stopping a pattern or changing it.

I continue an active role in publishing and actually much more hands on than the last few years. I've closed my literary agency and become a publisher at Intermedia Publishing Group. I'm working with a number of different authors on their books--cover design meetings, editing their books and much more. It's limited my time for writing these entries but I'm determined they should continue.

I hope you will check my speaking schedule from time to time. In the coming weeks, I will be back out teaching and talking one-on-one with writers about their specific projects. I'd love to meet you and talk about your project and how we could work together.

This weekend I head to Baltimore and the Spread the Word Conference. I'm excited about the opportunity to talk about how a published book can be a great calling card for every writer. There is still room for you to register and attend this conference. Hope to see you there.

Use Every Possible Marketing Tool

2009-01-25T14:40:00.002-07:00

When it comes to selling books, I written about many different marketing tools in these entries on The Writing Life. If you read various books on marketing, you will quickly learn there is not one method for selling your book but many different paths to sell books.

One of the tools that I've been watching and learning about is video book trailers. I was unsure how to find the right person to create one for my new book, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Then I met Misty Taggart at Trailer to the Stars! Productions. She did a fantastic job of listening to my needs then creating this less than two-minute book trailer:

I'm thrilled to have one more tool in my arsenal to tell people about the availability of my book.

Every author needs to actively work at gathering the right resources. Some people will watch the book trailer that will never bother to act from a physical postcard. While it is reverse for other people, they will respond to the postcard in the mail and never go to their computer and watch the video trailer. In my view, you want to be in both areas to interest people in your book.

Use What's In Front of You

2009-01-15T12:32:00.004-07:00

It is easy to pick up on the negative news and the dismal information blitz about the state of the national economy. Here's my big insight for you: don't let it. Guard your heart and mind or it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead each day focus on the positives and make a conscious effort to see the opportunities around you. They are present if you look for them.

While you don't need any validation for these sentences, take a quick look at the cover of last week's New Yorker magazine:

Where are the opportunities around you? If you have been writing for children and that isn't providing enough income or publishing opportunities, can you move to a different age group or different type of writing (from books to magazines or online markets)? There is a vast array of possibilities in the publishing area--if you are open to them. I give some of those possibilities in the sample from Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams because it includes the first chapter of my book.

Whether you have your own products or no products, you can open the possibility of earning passive income through affiliate programs. I have a free program which includes training about how to use the tools. If you have a blog or a website, with very little effort on your part, you can add my product ads to the side bar of your blog and forget about it. When someone uses that ad to purchase the product, you will receive a notification and I receive notification, then in a few weeks you will receive a check. Why do I give away 50% of my income from these products? It's simple. Different people will go by your websites or blogs than will go to my different websites. I'm expanding my reach and you are earning some extra income. If you have a newsletter or are involved in an online group, you can add your affiliate link to your signature line. If someone purchases the product, you earn money from that simple action.

In the last few days, I've worked with a designer to create two different banner ads. One of them is for a horizontal position:

While the other ad is smaller and vertical:

Each of these ads are "clickable" and take you to my site for Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. It's a way that I'm using the tools which are in my possession and I can actively do something about.

Many elements of the publishing world are outside of our control. Take responsibility for what you can and move ahead with it. Action will pay off much more than doing nothing.

Lighten Up Your Content with Cartoons

2009-01-09T09:26:00.002-07:00

When I have been writing a book, the information becomes dense and the storytelling could become a little thin. How do you lighten up the content for your reader? While you will have to make sure it is the right situation, in many cases you can use cartoons inside the book to meet this need.

Where do you find cartoons? When I attended Mega Book Marketing University several years ago, Mark Victor Hansen used a number of cartoons in his presentation and recommended that writers use the New Yorker Cartoon Bank. This resource has remarkable cartoons but I would encourage you to look into the cost of these cartoons in a book. The last time I checked it was around $300 each--which was beyond my budget for Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams.

If you are in this situation, where do you turn? I used a well-worn resource: Google and a bit of patience and persistence. I discovered this May 1, 2002 newsletter from Dan Poynter. It listed four additional sources:

"C. CARTOON SOURCES. Freelance bureaus such as APCA (http://www.apcatoon.com) Cartoon Resource (http://www.cartoonresource.com) Creative Moonlighter (http://www.creativemoonlighter.com) Elance (http://www.elance.com)."

As I evaluated these various resources, one of them stood out for my situation and budget: Cartoon Resource. This place has thousands of cartoons from different artists and the cost was $10 each cartoon or affordable. My Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams book has 20 chapters so I used a cartoon related to the contents in every other chapter or 10 different cartoons. If you would like to see one of my cartoons, then follow this link to the book page number 22 (page 20 in the PDF) or click the book image below:

As you check this sample, make sure you notice two new additions to page 5 and page 22. I've added clickable buttons to take you right to the page to get your own copy of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. This book will give your own writing life the boost it needs for this coming year.

Learn Something New

2008-12-19T12:46:00.002-07:00

The easiest course of action is to continue doing things in the same old way that you have been doing them. Most of us resist change and growing and learning yet in the long run, I've learned that change will often lead to something better for my business, my writing and my life. I'm constantly recommitting myself to learning something new and growing.

That change can be something simple or it can be something complex. For example, this morning, I figured out how to use a little Word document to add my return address in the perfect spot for a Priority Mail label from the U.S. Postal Service. Several weeks earlier with experimentation, I created a document that I've been using for the regular label but I had not worked out the exact spacing for the return address.

On my first attempt the return address was not in the right place on the label. I returned to the drawing board and repositioned the label and tried again. After several attempts, I located the perfect position for my printer and equipment. I've saved this little file and will use it over and over in the months ahead.

Admittedly I would have been easier to continue in my old pattern and not change but because I made a little effort to get this detail right, I can use the changed file repeatedly.

Another example relates to my new book, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, Insider Secrets to Skyrocket Your Success. One of my most popular free Ebooks is Straight Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to A Rejection-Proof Submission. I wrote this Ebook before I ever conceived of writing my new book. At the end of Straight Talk, I include information about some of my other books. The easiest course of action is to leave that old manuscript and not change anything. Instead I took the harder course of action. I pulled up the document and rewrote several sections to include links to my new book. Then I changed the Word document into a PDF and put it into the right place online so people will receive the revised version. In order to successfully accomplish each step, I've had to how to handle these technical details. Yes, I could have a webmaster or a technical co-worker where I send such issues. I did that type of action years ago and I often waited around for them to handle something simple that I could accomplish in only a few minutes.

The projects that you will work on for your writing life will be completely different from my examples. My encouragement is to continually escape your comfort zone and keep learning new skills. It is not easy but I'm convinced in the process, I continually grow to be a more valuable member of the publishing community with each accomplishment.

The Importance of Following

2008-12-16T10:52:00.003-07:00

Some of you probably haven't started on Twitter. New people are learning about this tool every day. Catch my Mastering Twitter in 10 Minutes or Less if you haven't read this Ebook.

While Twitter lets you set a beautiful background to your page and add your photo and other such things. They have a rather ugly placeholder for your picture. It's often one of the first things that people remove when they set up their account.

Also people change that photo from time to time--like if you look at my page at the moment, I'm wearing a Santa hat for the holiday season.

One of my writer friends has kept that ugly placeholder in his Twitter account for months. I wrote and offered to change it out for him--something that I did in only a few minutes. When I changed it, I noticed he had over 5,000 followers. That means whenever he sends out anything on Twitter it reaches over 5,000 people.

I wrote and asked him how he gained such a following. He looked for others interested in his particular subject and began to follow them on Twitter. These people followed him back and his numbers steadily grew.

If you want to increase your presence on Twitter, here's how you can do it--and devote little time to it. In a spare moment, go to Twellow and register. For example, here's my profile on Twellow.

Use Twellow to search for different occupations or locations or whatever your interest. The search tool will return with different people. The people with the greatest number of followers will be listed on the first pages.

Check each person's twitter page. Is there a balance between the number of people they follow and the number of followers? Some people only have a few people that they follow--so they will be unlikely to follow you (that's what I have decided). In general, I do not follow those types of people.

Also scan their page to see if what they are saying and doing is compatible with your interests. Then if so, click the "follow" button underneath their photo.

You have taken a calculated risk to follow this person and hope they follow you in response. I've experienced a huge growth in my Twitter profile from this simple step.

Even if you aren't interested in Twitter, there is a basic principle here that you can apply to your writing life. It's important to follow the instructions. If you are going to write for the leading magazines, then you need to learn to write a riveting query letter. If you are going to capture the best possible book deal, then you need to learn to write a great book proposal. Following is important in many aspects of the publishing world.

If you have questions about how to get published or improve your publishing life for 2009, I'm providing a place for you to ask those questions and get my answer at: http://www.askterrywhalin.com/ If you can't attend the teleseminar, still register because you will receive an email with the replay information for the edited recording.

Tips For Anyone Who Writes A Regular Column

2008-12-14T15:03:00.008-07:00

On the surface many writers may look at The Art of Column Writing:Insider Secrets from Art Buchwald, Dave Barry, Arianna Huffington, Pete Hamill and Other Great Columnists and wonder why they should read it. Immediately they will eliminate themselves because they don't write a newspaper or magazine column. Yet I believe the information in this book is much more applicable to a broader audience. If you blog on a regular basis, then in the broadest possible sense, you are a regular columnist and can profit from the skills and tips in this book. Newspaper columnists have an admitted challenge to draw their readers into their work and compel them to read their writing. If you write a column for a newspaper or a magazine on a regular basis, get this book. It’s excellent and packed with wisdom from many different well-known writers.

These columnists have drawn a consistent readership and any writer can profit from the study of this book. Why? Whether you have a growing readership in your blog or a column for a magazine or a regular spot in a local newspaper, you have to draw on the tips and techniques in this title. I liked what author Suzette Martinez Standring wrote in the Introduction: the Quest for a Column saying, “It is better to ask, ‘How can I make my work worth of being published?’ Let’s take a moment to deconstruct a newspaper column. It compels or captivates with a tale, a message, or a persuasive argument. Jam-pack those thoughts into, say, 600 select words. Create an engaging start, an informative middle, and ideally, a surprise ending, all written in a voice so signature any reader could identify the columnist even without a byline. ‘What we do is more like a short story,’ said legendary metro columnist Pete Hamill during a 2005 NSNC (National Society of Newspaper Columnists) meeting in Texas. Time, talent, and practice are required to do condensed writing well.” (page 11)

EVERY WRITER can profit from reading The Art of Column Writing because the universal nature of the skill of column writing.

Get Answers For Your Publishing Questions

2008-12-13T14:40:00.004-07:00

It's a challenge to find answers to your publishing questions--especially in these days of form rejections.

On Thursday, December 18th, I'll be answering questions through a teleseminar. Besides asking a question, you can receive a sample of my book, Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, Insider Secrets to Skyrocket Your Success. This book is available in multiple formats and will officially publish in mid-March 2009 but you can get a pre-release copy.

With the right help, you can make 2009 the year to achieve your plans and dreams. I've built such insight into every chapter of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams.

Head over to http://www.askterrywhalin.com/ and sign up for the teleseminar. Even if you can't attend, the call will be recorded and every registrant will receive an email to the replay of this free event.

Seize The Initiative With Publicity

2008-12-11T06:56:00.002-07:00

People who want to be authors, love to put words on the page. I understand because I'm one of those people who love to write and have people read my writing. Yet studies have shown that most authors are introverts and would prefer to sit in the corner and not talk about their book in public.

While you don't have to change your personality to work with publicity, you do have to show others your passion about your topic and figure out how to use publicity tools to gain exposure for your book or your subject area.

Over the last few days, I've been highlighting some of the contents of Guerrilla Publicity, The book contains much more than I can cover in a few entries about the Writing Life such as 15 things the media loves and 15 things it hates, how to create a media kit guerrilla style, how to think in headlines, how to design a seminar, how to become a public speaker, how to use radio, blogging, podcasts and much more.

Today I want to talk about a key area of publicity where many people miss the opportunity--follow up. Here's the quotation which begins the chapter, Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up: "What is promotion without the pro? Just motion. The pros follow up, follow up, follow up. - Rick Frishman." (page 58)

There is a technique which you if you don't know, you will need to learn to keep the door open and be persistent and not a pest. Like the authors write on page 61, "Tell those you contact straight out to let you know when you become a pain. Say something like, "Look, I know that when I'm pitching a story I can get to be a real pain in the butt, so tell me if I'm getting out of line." Ironically, when they see you as a potential pain, they tend to treat you better. Rehearse exactly what you plan to say and get it down. You want to be subtle, to get your message across without sounding threatening or obnoxious." Then the authors include many more specific insights about this area of follow-up.

The author conclude the chapter with a dose of reality related to follow-up saying, "Before long, following up becomes a skill that you've mastered, perfected, and made your own. As for the discouragement of rejection, focus on our version of the Rule of Seven, it typically takes seven calls or emails to actually get a booking. Expect six no's before you get a yes. Or, after seven unanswered contact attempts, it may be time to move on. Following up enhances other parts of your life. It teaches you patience, understanding and persistence. It shows you how to plan, position yourself, wait your turn, be professional and seize opportunities." (page 66-67).

It sounds like it cures everything but it is a critical part of any publicity strategy. You can learn much more in Guerrilla Publicity but the key from my perspective is not just to read the book but incorporate the principles into your writing life.

Effective Publicity Has Rules

2008-12-10T10:17:00.003-07:00

At their own peril, writers ignore their need to use guerilla publicity techniques. Then when they have poor sales, the first tendency for any author is to blame someone outside of themselves. Over the years, I've heard authors tell their woes of poor results for every single publisher--large or small. It's almost a universal truth that authors believe their publisher isn't doing enough for them and the promotion of their book.

And if I'm really honest as an author, I understand that I take the primary responsibility for the marketing and publicity of my books. Why? As the author, I have the most passion for my topic. Do I want to do other things with my limited time and energy? Absolutely but my personal publicity needs to be a consistent part of my efforts--whether I have a book published or not. Many writers forget that they are the brand--no matter which product they are talking about.

In this entry about The Writing Life, I'm including more information about Guerrilla Publicity. They include a full chapter on how to introduce yourself with a sound bite. As they write on page 9, "If you want to get your message across, you need a great sound bite that will immediately capture the attention of busy people. When you get an opening to deliver your sound bite, you better make it good! You must deliver your sound bite quickly, clearly, and compellingly. The more briefly you say it, the better it is." Then the authors give much more detail about how to create this sound bite.

In the third chapter, Your Campaign Starts with You, they emphasize understanding your own area of expertise and how to emphasize the benefits of your expertise as you talk with other people. Then this chapter concludes with some solid wisdom for writers, "Publicity is a full-time 24/7 job. It never stops! Continually tell the world that you're an expert, and how you can help them. Good self-promotion can inspire, excite, and energize your prospective customers and clients as long as you believe in it . Become a walking self-advertisement. Learn to spot opportunities to toot your own and always be prepared to seize upon them."

The fourth chapter, Build Relationships To Build Your Own Empires, is really what I wanted to focus on with this entry. You can't have effective publicity if you don't understand the rules. These rules are fully explained in Guerrilla Publicity but they are worth including here just to give you a taste of the contents of this excellent book:

"Since the media holds all the cards, they make the rules. If you want to play at their table, you have to adhere to their rules. Ironically, there are only three rules and they're alarmingly simple:

1. You are a resource for the media.

2. It's never personal.

3. The media can always change what it wants, but you can't." (page 22-23)

Finally the authors give this sound conclusion, "By adhering to their rules, the media will consider you a professional, someone they can rely on and with whom they'll do business." I hope you can see Guerrilla Publicity is packed with useful information for every writer.

Be A Light in the Darkness

2008-12-09T10:44:00.005-07:00

Have you listened to the news lately? It's pretty dismal and each day it seems to increase. I was interested to read my friend Michael Hyatt, the CEO of Thomas Nelson has made a self-imposed media fast. I'm convinced there is another way you can take with your work and your writing.

Last night I was listening to Alex Mandossian teach the opening class of the Teleseminar Secrets course. Alex was talking about how this year has been one of his best ever in terms of sales. It's not a story that you hear often but you need to be listening for these gems of encouragement. Cynthia Kersey at Unstoppable.net recently wrote, "Unstoppable people don't believe in failure. They see mistakes as opportunities to learn and develop new skills and strategies, not as failure. Failure implies waste, that nothing has been gained. On the contrary, people can gain much from every mistake and setback along the road to success. Mistakes and failures are inevitable and even essential; they are evidence of action --that you are doing something. The more mistakes you make, the greater your chance of succeeding. Failures indicate a willingness to experiment and take risks. Unstoppable people know that each failure brings them a step closer to achieving their dreams." How can you be unstoppable?

I've got several plans in motion for the future which on the surface seem impossible. Often little voices seem to shout inside that I should not be working on such a project. Instead of listening, I plow ahead into uncharted waters because like Cynthia Kersey says, "It's through adversity and failure that we ultimately win. being able to see failure as an opportunity for learning and improvement is critical to becoming unstoppable."

In a series of entries, I'm going to pull some information and insight from Guerrilla Publicity. I recently read the second edition of this book and it's filled with applicable information for writers and anyone interested in publishing. Many people would like to delegate the whole publicity area to someone else. They hire a "publicist" for a season or set an advertising budget. With a different mindset and attitude, you can reach more people with less of a financial investment.

As the authors explain in the introduction of Guerrilla Publicity, "Most people don't know the value publicity adds to their businesses or how to implement it." You can learn the basic skill of relationship building from these authors who write, "Guerilla publicity works best for small- to mid-level businesses and provides the widest exposure at the lowest price--and it costs far less than advertising and can produce better results. Publicity lets you tell your story in greater depth than advertising, which is crucial for new and unique enterprises."

Each chapter of this book contains many insights and critical steps for anyone to build a presence in today's marketplace with the latest cost-effective techniques. Get this book and study each page because it will give you the edge that you need to stand out and succeed.

Watch for another entry about some of the information in this book--but in the meantime, be a light in the darkness. It will attract people to your message.